Residents' group sues state over Futenma airbase relocation

Thursday 20th August, 06:39 AM JST

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10 Comments

knoe666 at 07:14 AM JST - 20th August

The US troops and military should be relocated off Okinawa altogether. The planned Guam re-location should just be agreed and started now. No more destruction of Okinawa's environment should be key. Again a soft government of silly old fools looking only at their retirement job (when they 95 or so..erm).
societymike at 07:54 AM JST - 20th August

knoe666, it already HAS been agreed upon and has already started. Ginowan city is too big and compact and Futenma is in the way. They started the construction of the new runway at Camp Schwab near Nago years ago but stopped. The only thing slowing the movement of getting Futenma closed and most of it's assests moved, are these silly groups themselves. Their claims to endangering the wildlife are NOT valid. The part of the runway (it's only for helicopters) that extends into the (non-existent) supossed Dugong habitat, was already created years ago. They only went out a few meters into the shallow waters (less then 3m deep) and placed those large concrete pylons and started filling in the middle, however, work was stopped. All they are doing now is continuing to fill in that area. There is no wildlife there, it's a giant mud pit.

Also, the "relocation to Camp Schwab near Nago" of Futenma is only for the helicopters which are used for Rescue operations supporting Japan/Okinawa. All the fixed wing aircraft now at Futenma will move to Guam, and some to Iwakuni.
YuriOtani at 09:28 AM JST - 20th August

Do not think this airfield will ever get completed. Why do the Marines need a new airfield in Okinawa? I do not think the small amount of Marine Helicopters will affect operations in Korea. I do find it amazing hoe the base opposition people become environmentalists when needed to block an American base. Where were they when all of these large landfills along the oceanfront happened? A clear double standard.
societymike at 11:01 AM JST - 20th August

YuriOtani, I agree, it's a funny double standard.

As for the helicopters, they are there for local area support in case of disaster or worst case, attack. Right now, some of those helicopters are assisting Taiwan after the recent Typhoon.

Either way, they are there because Government in Tokyo wants them to be. Last I heard, the Marines wanted to get rid of them altogether, but everything in this situation depends on the current SOFA.
JpMoonkey at 12:06 PM JST - 20th August

Solution: Close all American bases in Ryukyu and move them to 'mainland' Japan. Let the Okinawans live in peace. Also, bring peace to the Korean peninsula. American bases in Phil, were closed by Gen.Fidel Ramos. So why can't the Japanese and Americans do it in Okinawa? It shows that the Japanese don't care about the Okinawans.
Triumvere at 12:49 PM JST - 20th August

Also, bring peace to the Korean peninsula.

Oh, is that all? Piece of cake, really.
martyman at 08:57 PM JST - 20th August

Too funny, as the military bases close, mainland japanese corporations have bought up most of the land for ridiculously low price from the okinawans. Most of the new construction projects seem to be for resorts and housing. And oh yes, the okinawa realtors and house owners that rent to the foriegn devils are already under high stress now that the military are required to live on base instead of off-base. They even had the courage to ask the Okinawa Mayor to force the base to stop the housing restrictions and stop any further housing projects/renovations on base.

U.S. military, you have to love and hate them in Japan to make everyone happy.
Squally at 11:07 PM JST - 20th August

Ok, who has actually seen the dugongs? Never heard of a siting when I was there and haven't read about a siting in over 10 years IIRC. I think they're long gone, you can blame all the local construction projects that produce a TON of runoff that pollutes the ocean.
alphawolf at 04:54 AM JST - 21st August

Move the bases to southern Korea.. not Okinawa or Guam..

aw
sharky1 at 05:06 AM JST - 21st August

If it was a majority opposition, I think the opposition groups would be larger.　As it is, it is only a few small special interest groups that are making a lot of noise. You know what they say, its the squeeky wheel that gets the grease...